IP Library Granted Patent US 8,333,659
Granted Patent B2
US 8,333,659 · App. 12/895,759 · Granted Dec 18, 2012

Apparatuses, methods and systems for a live online game tester

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,333,659
App. No.
12/895,759
Granted
Dec 18, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AN ONLINE BEHAVIOR MONITOR (“OBM”) transform user social-gaming behavioral pattern data via various OBM components into online social-gaming experience customizations. In one embodiment, the OBM may provide, in response to a gaming app request from a user, a gaming app including a test game feature for the user. The OBM may obtain user social graph data identifying co-users of the user. The OBM may also obtain: online gaming pattern data for the users and the co-users, including gaming action identifiers and their associated gaming action timestamps; user online social activity data, for the users and the co-users, including social networking action identifiers and their associated social networking action timestamps; and game feature adoption evaluation instructions. The OBM may generate social-gaming activity timelines for the users and the co-users using the gaming action identifiers and the associated gaming action timestamps, as well as the social networking action identifiers and the associated social networking action timestamps. The OBM may also calculate and provide game feature adoption scores by applying the game feature adoption evaluation instructions to the generated social-gaming activity timelines.

Claims (71)

1. A processor-implemented live online game testing method, comprising:

providing, in response to a gaming app request from a user, a gaming app including a test game feature for the user;

obtaining user social graph data identifying co-users of the user;

obtaining, upon providing the gaming app, at least:

online gaming pattern data, for the users and the co-users, including gaming action identifiers and their associated gaming action timestamps;

user online social activity data, for the users and the co-users, including social networking action identifiers and their associated social networking action timestamps; and

game feature adoption evaluation instructions;

generating, via a processor, social-gaming activity timelines for the users and the co-users using the gaming action identifiers and the associated gaming action timestamps, as well as the social networking action identifiers and the associated social networking action timestamps;

calculating game feature adoption scores by applying the game feature adoption evaluation instructions to the generated social-gaming activity timelines; and

providing the game feature adoption scores.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a subset of the co-users for whom to provide game feature testing invitations, based on the social-gaming activity timelines for the co-users; and

providing game feature testing invitations to the subset of the co-users.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing an option for the user to select a subset of the co-users for whom to provide game feature testing invitations;

obtaining a user selection of the subset of the co-users for whom to provide game feature testing invitations; and

providing game feature testing invitations to the selected subset of the co-users.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

obtaining invitation acceptance notifications from a subset of the co-users; and

providing gaming apps including a new test game feature for the co-users from whom invitation acceptance notifications were obtained.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the test game feature is a modified gaming difficulty level.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the test game feature is a modified product purchase price.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the modified product purchase price pertains to an in-game virtual product.

8. A live online game testing system, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory and configured to issue processing instructions stored in the memory, wherein the processor issues instructions to:

provide, in response to a gaming app request from a user, a gaming app including a test game feature for the user;

obtain user social graph data identifying co-users of the user;

obtain, upon providing the gaming app, at least:

online gaming pattern data, for the users and the co-users, including gaming action identifiers and their associated gaming action timestamps;

user online social activity data, for the users and the co-users, including social networking action identifiers and their associated social networking action timestamps; and

game feature adoption evaluation instructions;

generate social-gaming activity timelines for the users and the co-users using the gaming action identifiers and the associated gaming action timestamps, as well as the social networking action identifiers and the associated social networking action timestamps;

calculate game feature adoption scores by applying the game feature adoption evaluation instructions to the generated social-gaming activity timelines; and

provide the game feature adoption scores.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor further issues instructions to:

identify a subset of the co-users for whom to provide game feature testing invitations, based on the social-gaming activity timelines for the co-users; and

provide game feature testing invitations to the subset of the co-users.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor further issues instructions to:

provide an option for the user to select a subset of the co-users for whom to provide game feature testing invitations;

obtain a user selection of the subset of the co-users for whom to provide game feature testing invitations; and

provide game feature testing invitations to the selected subset of the co-users.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor further issues instructions to:

obtain invitation acceptance notifications from a subset of the co-users; and

provide gaming apps including a new test game feature for the co-users from whom invitation acceptance notifications were obtained.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the test game feature is a modified gaming difficulty level.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the test game feature is a modified product purchase price.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the modified product purchase price pertains to an in-game virtual product.

15. A processor-readable tangible medium storing processor-issuable live online game testing instructions to:

provide, in response to a gaming app request from a user, a gaming app including a test game feature for the user;

obtain user social graph data identifying co-users of the user;

obtain, upon providing the gaming app, at least:

online gaming pattern data, for the users and the co-users, including gaming action identifiers and their associated gaming action timestamps;

user online social activity data, for the users and the co-users, including social networking action identifiers and their associated social networking action timestamps; and

game feature adoption evaluation instructions;

generate social-gaming activity timelines for the users and the co-users using the gaming action identifiers and the associated gaming action timestamps, as well as the social networking action identifiers and the associated social networking action timestamps;

calculate game feature adoption scores by applying the game feature adoption evaluation instructions to the generated social-gaming activity timelines; and

provide the game feature adoption scores.

16. The medium of claim 15 , the medium further storing instructions to:

identify a subset of the co-users for whom to provide game feature testing invitations, based on the social-gaming activity timelines for the co-users; and

provide game feature testing invitations to the subset of the co-users.

17. The medium of claim 15 , the medium further storing instructions to:

provide an option for the user to select a subset of the co-users for whom to provide game feature testing invitations;

obtain a user selection of the subset of the co-users for whom to provide game feature testing invitations; and

provide game feature testing invitations to the selected subset of the co-users.

18. The medium of claim 16 , the medium further storing instructions to:

obtain invitation acceptance notifications from a subset of the co-users; and

provide gaming apps including a new test game feature for the co-users from whom invitation acceptance notifications were obtained.

19. The medium of claim 15 , wherein the test game feature is a modified gaming difficulty level.

20. The medium of claim 15 , wherein the test game feature is a modified product purchase price.

21. The medium of claim 20 , wherein the modified product purchase price pertains to an in-game virtual product.

Assignments (5)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 23, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 060163/0437 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 14, 2020
From: ZYNGA INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 054719/0490 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 11, 2020
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS LENDER
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 054701/0393 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 21, 2018
From: ZYNGA INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS LENDER
Reel/Frame 049147/0546 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2011
From: OCKO, MATTHEW; DRIEMEYER, JUSTIN
To: ZYNGA INC.
Reel/Frame 026941/0718 →